Fund Our Future:Demand Congress Prioritize Research in the 2018 Budget!

Dear Member of Congress,

We are University of California researchers, and we sign on to these principles that acknowledge the critical role that science and humanities research plays in our society. Together, we demand a nation that welcomes immigrants and visa holders, federal legislation that protects our planet from the dangerous consequences of climate change, and enhanced funding for research that expands our capacity to solve the most challenging problems facing our communities.

We urge you to advance these same principles and issues:

Defend Science and the Value of Research

Expand, do not cut, funding for the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, National Endowment for the Humanities and other research agencies

Use peer-reviewed evidence and scientific consensus while crafting policy and legislation, particularly on the key issue of climate change

Expand the Rights of Immigrants and Visa Holders

Fight against any bans on visa holders from specific countries

Expand access to visas and permanent residency for science and humanities researchers

Prevent the deportation of immigrants and work towards comprehensive immigration reform with a pathway to citizenship

Remove the burden and delays of visa renewal to allow international researchers the freedom to visit family and attend international conferences

Promote Equity and Diversity in Research and Academia

Improve, do not erode, programs to prevent and address sexual assault and harassment on college campuses and in the workplace

Create programs and policies to encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ people, people with disabilities and other historically marginalized groups to pursue careers in research

Decrease barriers to advancement in research fields by expanding family-friendly policies and programs, such as paid parental leave, comprehensive health care, and affordable child care